The Help Group's Festival of Arts Sponsored by Bear Givers Features 180 Young Artists

Sixth Annual Art Show Provides the Opportunity for Student Artists with Autism and other Special Needs to Showcase their Creativity

News provided by

The Help Group

Jun 15, 2015, 02:05 ET

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Sunday, May 31, The Help Group was proud to present Festival of Arts: A Celebration of Young Artists sponsored by the New York based nonprofit Bear Givers for the sixth consecutive year. The show featured three exhibits – Through Our Eyes, a collection of over 160 original paintings; inside/out, an exhibition of images and written words told through photography; and The Art of STEM, featuring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math works along with award-winning robotics.

The exhibits were on display at the Santa Monica Art Studios, a historic hangar at the Santa Monica Airport that provided a unique gallery setting for students to display their creative offerings.

The afternoon's festivities was the culmination of the school year's arts program and STEM projects, and included a special reception in honor of the young artists. Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO, The Help Group remarked, "We believe the arts are fundamentally important to our children's self-discovery and self-esteem. Today is a wonderful afternoon celebrating the talents and imaginations of our students."

Bear Givers EmpowerArt program creates opportunities for young artists from around the country to experience the joy of creating art and seeing their art showcased at a special exhibit. "To see the children's faces light up when they walk into a real art gallery and spot their creation for the first time is so inspiring," said Joseph Sprung, Bear Givers Chairman. Diane Lempert, President, Bear Givers added, "For me it's so wonderful spending time amongst children and being able to see what all of them can do."

Special guest Malissa Feruzzi Shriver, longtime advocate for arts education in schools, congratulated all of the young artists and remarked, "It's all about giving young people the opportunity to express themselves through the arts, and how wonderful to see The Help Group's young artists take so much pride in their work."

The Help Group Children's Choir and Village Glen Recorder Ensemble added to the magic of the day with their special musical performances.

About The Help Group
Founded in 1975, The Help Group is dedicated to helping young people with autism and other special needs fully realize their potential. It is the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States and is recognized as a leader in the field of autism. The Help Group offers a wide range of innovative autism spectrum disorders programs, and each day, 1000 students ages 3 – 22 attend its autism day schools. www.thehelpgroup.org; https://www.facebook.com/TheHelpGroup; https://twitter.com/thehelpgroup

About Bear Givers
Bear Givers is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing joy to the lives of children and adults with the symbolic gift of a loveable teddy bear. Bear Givers believes that the altruism of some can exponentially affect the lives of many. The EmpowerArt Program enables children with special needs or illness to experience the joy and pride of creating art, seeing it showcased and sold at a special exhibit, and making a meaningful contribution since all proceeds are donated to the school or hospital. Knowing that their work is enriching their school or the hospital provides children with a one of a kind sense of accomplishment and confidence. www.beargivers.org

SOURCE The Help Group